Hay and straw hook.



H. E. MOORE.

HAY AND STRAW HOOK.

APPLICATION man DEc.22.1917.

2 sHEEs-SMEE'T 1.

H E-MQOKE H. E. MOORE.

HAY AND STRAW HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED OEC.22, 1917.

1,289,228., Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2;

. or spear HARRY E. MOORE, OF SMITHFIELD, NEBRASKA.

HAY AND s'rRAw HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application led December 22, 1917. Serial No. 208,413.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, HARRY E. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Smithfield, in the county of Gosper and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay and Straw Hooks, 0f which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relatesto certain improvements in hay and straw hooks and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a plurality of hook members, preferably four in number, which move in substantially perpendicularly related planes whereby compression is imposed upon the load toward a common center. v

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby each of the hook members comprised therein is capable of swinging 0r pivotal movement independently of the other hook members so that the device as a whole may automati- .cally adjust itself to compensate for any uneven surfaces of the load.

Furthermore the invention has for an object to provide of this general character including a plurality of. coacting hook members together with an elongated center spike or spear to precede the hook members into the hay or straw and guide said hookmembers in their grasp together with a plate adjustably mounted upon said spike or spear which serves to limit the penetration of the spike to prevent overloading or to pretO a floor or wagon when reor straw vent injury moving small quantities of hay therefrom.

`A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character comprising a plurality of relatively movable hook. members together with a trip block coacting therewith and wherein a releasing member for the trip block is engaged with one of the hook members to prevent the device as a whole from revolving and to enable the operator to properly guide the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device lof this general character having a trip block including releasable a novel and improved deviceV member means engageable with a head or casting with which the hook members are operatively connected so that the load grasped by the hook members may be readily elevated and released at the desired time.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the'combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved hay and straw hook whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set fort The lnovel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In Order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention with the hook members in extended 0r release position;

Fig. Qis a view in perspective ofthe device as herein embodied, and in closed or compacted arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a view in top plan of the plate or member adjustably mounted` upon the spike or spear as herein included;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in` section of the trip block as herein employed with the trigger or catch in closed position, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. a with the trigger or catch in open position.'

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings 1 denotes a head or casting provided with four equi-distantly spaced and radially disposed hollow wings2 and provided at its top with the upstanding post or arm 3 having its upper or free extremity provided with the eye 4. Depending from the lower end of the head or casting 1V at the axial center thereof is the spike or spear 5 of predetermined length. Slidably mounted upon the spikeor spear 5 is the gage plate 6 having operatively engaged with the upper surface thereof a clamping member or cam 7 adapted to coact with 'the spike'or spear 5 to hold the plate 6 at a predetermined point longitudinally of the spike or spear 5. The plate 6 has also secured thereto a flexible 8 herein disclosed as a chain and .penetration of said trigger or catch will seat within the lovver recess 23 in the arm 22 whereby the trigger or catch 2l is held in open cr release position. It Will also be self-evident that the spike or spear 5 will serve to guide the device when being engaged with the hay or straw to be lifted and that the extent of spike or spear 5 will be controlled by the plate 6, so that a floor or wagon will be protected against injury or whereby overloading of the hook members will be prevented when the device is employed in connection with heavy hay.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a hay and straw fork constructed in accordance With my invention is particularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification Without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to 'be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising a head, hook members pivotally engaged with the headland capable of movement one independently of the other, a trip block having releasable connection with the head, flexible connections between the hook members and the trip block, a spear extending longitudinally from the head at the inner end thereof, and .adjustable means carried by the spear for limiting the penetration thereof.

2. A device of the character described comprising a head, hook members pivotally engaged with the head and capable of movenient one independently of the other, a trip block having releasable connection with the head, flexible connections between the hookmembers and the trip block, a spear extending longitudinally from the head at the inner end thereof, and a plate carried by the spear and adjustable longitudinally thereof.

3. A device of the character described comprising head, hook members pivotally Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the engaged with the head and capable of movement one independently of the other, a trip block having releasable connection With the head, flexible connections between the hook members and the trip block, a spear extending longitudinally from the head at the inner end thereof, a plate slidably engaged with the spear and movable longitudinally thereof, and means carried by the plate for clamping the same against movement.

l. A device of the character described comprising a head, hook members carried thereby, a spear extending longitudinally from the head at the inner end thereof, and adjustable means carried by the spear for limiting the penetration thereof.

5. A device of the character described comprising a head, a plurality of hook members separately engaged with the head and capable of movementone independently of the other to compensate for any uneven surfaces of the load, a spear extending longitudinally from the head at the inner end thereof, and adjustable means carried by the spear for limiting the penetration thereof.

6. A device of the character described comprising a head, a plurality of hook members separately engaged With the head and capable of movement one independently of the other to compensate fer any uneven surfaces of the load, a spear extending longitudinally from the head at the inner end thereof, and a plate carried by the spear and adjustable longitudinally thereof.

7. A device of the character described comprising a head, a plurality of hook members separately engaged With the head and capable of movement one independently of the other to compensate for faces of the load, a spear extending longitudinalhv from the head at the inner end thereof, a plate slidably engaged With the spear and movable longitudinally thereof, and means carried by the plate for clamping the saine against movement.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of tivo Witnesses.

HARRY E. MOORE.

Witnesses L. H. HANLIN, E. T. BIGELOW.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

